State Sovereignty Resolution Update 2/21

Washington: HJM4009 was assigned to the State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee. The committee chairman informed the sponsor, Rep. Matt Shea, that the bill will not receive a hearing, effectively killing the bill.

Arkansas: Rep. Debra Hobbs, R-Rogers, filed HCR1011 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. The resolution is modeled on Oklahoma’s, but includes this additional paragraph:

“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is the position of the State of Arkansas that all compulsory federal legislation that directs states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties or sanctions or requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding be prohibited or repealed.”

Minnesota: HF997, also modeled on Oklahoma, was introduced in the House State and Local Government Operations, Reform, Technology, and Elections Committee.

According to BC Politics, Maine has proposed a resolution, but its legislative process will delay it by several months. A petition drive is being started in Florida.

In Massachusetts, citizens can request that a bill be entered on their behalf. Ron Bokleman is trying to get a version of the New Hampshire bill submitted, but has encountered resistance from the House Council, which stated that “They believe that the Resolution is asking for Federal relief and indicated that we have no control over other states or states’ rights. They felt that this was a matter for a Congressional office to handle.” Mr. Bokleman and the Massachusetts House are still corresponding, so the effort is not dead.

By our count, the number of States with resolutions in house is 13.

Virtual buckeye to BC Politics, which has greatly added to our knowledge of the progress of State sovereignty resolutions (for that matter, take the whole box!)